Chapter Forty-Three

Cyro could feel his concern turn to anger. Every beast that laid eyes on Mira wished to take her from him, and now she carried his beastly. He stood slowly keeping his eyes on the Pythoness. He tried hard to stay calm and swallow his growl. Just as he was about to speak Mira's soft warm hands grabbed his. He turned his head and locked eyes with her, he could see a plead in her eyes. He nodded his head and stepped behind her as she stood. He kept his eyes on her as she faced the Pythoness.

"What happens if we go with you?" He could hear her emphasis the 'we' as she spoke.

"We?" He knew from their tone that Pythoness did not want to bring him.

"Where I go, he goes." She said it firmly as he felt her push back into him. He couldn't help but smile and wrap his arms around.

He knew by how relaxed she was that she felt safe with him. He was also happy she didn't mention Indigo. He only allowed Indigo near her so he could protect her. To see she had made no bond with Indigo made him very happy. She was his and he was hers, and no one was going to get between them as long as he had a say so.

"I see," he directed his attention towards Pythoness. Their voice held no emotion this time. "I'll let you bring two of your choosing. But I can not let you bring all your mates."

Cyro hissed at their words. The audacity they had to assume they were all her mates was blasphemous in its self. He had dreamed of being able to lay eyes on the beautiful Pythoness. Yet now he found him self hissing and growling at them instead.

"So you mean to tell me, Mira here, has only one mate."

The sound of him saying no and Mira saying yes made him freeze. Had he misinterpreted her not mentioning Indigo because she felt she could only bring one of them. He adverted his eyes from her and loosened his grip. He didn't want to know if they had created a bond together. The thought of Indigo even laying a claw on her was enough to anger him, and make him sick.

"Cyro accept Indigos offer to be my second mate so I may have additional protection." He could feel Mira gentle rub his arm to sooth him. "Me and Indigo have stayed completely platonic though."

"I see. In that case you can still bring him." Cyro looked at the Pythoness only to meet their gaze. "Who knows maybe Indigo would want to full accept you as his mate. As it is rare for a beast to make such an offer without motive."

With that Pythoness left them to gather their things for tomorrow. They sound of the groundlings shrieks growing ever so louder. Mira was the one to let Indigo know to pack his things. He would let out low hisses of irritation every now and then as they packed in silence. Whenever Mira was close enough, she would cut off his hisses with a small touch to his arm. He mainly let out the hisses every time Indigo would touch something of hers. Indigo would just look at Mira like a wounded pup every time. She would smile then stare at him till so he would stop. It irritated him. Especially after what the Pythoness said. Their words echoing in his head. He knew it would only be a matter of time before he would ask Mira to carry his pups too. He bald his hand in a fist as the thoughts raced through his head. The feeling of Mira touching his arm again made his grip loosen. He turned to her kneeled down and placed his head on her belly. His way of showing her love and apologies for his behavior. The sound of the door banging open made them all jump, causing their things to scatter on the floor.

"The groundlings have broken through the walls!" The Pythonesses eyes were wide with fear. "We need to leave now!"

Screams erupted into the halls behind them. Without thinking Cyro picked Mira up in his arms and ran to follow the Pythoness. He didn't check to see if indigo was behind them. They ran passed all the beasts that were running and screaming in pure chaos. They lead them into the back gardens and headed straight for the opposite wall. It was only then that he looked behind him. The groundlings were running and attacking anyone that came into their sight. But they weren't feed. They seemed to be looking for someone. He shoved the thought down before it could even form in his head and ran faster. He weaved past people who were carrying little ones and bags of food. He wanted to stop and help the little ones who were screaming and crying in their mothers arms. However, he knew against the groundlings, only the strongest were going to get away. With them it wasn't about survival, it was about getting away. Trying to kill two with Alzie's help was nearly impossible, the hoard is sure to destroy this village and all who are too slow to escape. It was a hard reality in this world.

He could barely hear Mira screaming and shouting at him to help them as she pounded on his chest. He knew she would hate him for not listening, but they didn't not have the means nor the numbers to fight a hoard this large. They slowed down at the wall as some of the male beast tried to bust the wall gates open. Cyro just shifted Mira to his shoulder, making her sit to not her the beastly and scaled the wall with his claws. The Pythoness just flew over easily, reaching her hand down to them. Cyro ignored it giving them time to pull up Indigo. He pulled Mira back to a cradle positon as he looked down to see all the groundlings that had yet to enter the village. They were completely surrounded. He desperately looked around to find any means of escape to no vail.

"Hand her here!" Pythoness shouted at him. "I can fly her from here and send other back for you!"

"No!" He shouted back. "I can't leave her side!"

"I can't carry both of you!" they retorted.

"Look!" Indigo shouted as a mass of creatures were flying straight at them.

Cyros night vision allowed him to clearly see them. Bats. They rarely made an appearance to any village. They must have heard the commotion and came to help. The watched as they flew over them grabbing any survivors that they could. Three landed in front of them on the wall.

"Need a lift?" One said as they were already reaching for Mira.

Cyro pulled her closer unsure to trust them.

"Don't worry," one placed a hand on his shoulder. "Well fly next to each other so that you have your eyes on her at all times.

He nodded and let the one in front of him take her. He felt weird and uncomfortable as the bat held him close to him. It was a strange embracing hold that allowed the bat to still fly. He knew nothing about bats, yet he'd rather trust them instead of the Pythoness. He knew they watched over villages at night when everyone was sleeping. He sat in trees when he was younger watching them fly above in the night sky. He did enjoy fly though and as he looked at Mira he could see she too enjoyed it a bit. He looked down to see them begin to fly over a mountain as other flew below them. The carnage that was once the village was now in flames. He watched as the groundling ran, some on fire. Already mourning those who have died and were now a blazing light. He knew the bats would have to find a new home too. The groundlings would only follow them to their home. He looked over to see the Pythoness, carrying Indigo, speaking with the bat that cared Mira. The uneasy feeling growing in his belly.